In an emergency, availability of the pervasive communications environment could mean the difference between life and death. Possibly one of the first guides to comprehensively explore these futuristic omnipresent communications networks, the Pervasive Communications Handbook addresses current technology (i.e., MAC protocols and P2P-based VoD architecture) and developments expected in the very near future, when most people and places will be virtually connected through a constant and perpetual exchange of information. This monumental advance in communications is set to dramatically change daily life, in areas ranging from healthcare, transportation, and education to commerce and socialization. With contributions from dozens of pioneering experts, this important reference discusses one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-one exchanges of information. Organized by the three key aspects—technology, architecture, and applications—the book explores enabling technologies, applications and services, location and mobility management, and privacy and trust. Citing the technology’s importance to energy distribution, home automation, and telecare among other areas, it delves into topics such as quality of service, security, efficiency, and reliability in mobile network design, and environment interoperability.

Regulation of electronic communications in the EU Member States is increasingly driven by European legislation. This title collects the key European legislation and other instruments pertinent to the electronic communications sector and in some cases is annotated by Francesco Liberatore and his colleagues at global law firm, Squire Patton Boggs. The timing of this title is particularly opportune as it includes: - The new EU Electronic Communications Code Directive - The Commission's Guidelines on market analysis and its recommendation on relevant markets - Significant measures (other Directives, Commission decisions and recommendations) integral to the regulatory framework - The BEREC Common Position on Remedies and other BEREC texts

Moving beyond the U.S.-Eurocentric paradigm of communication theory, this handbook broadens the intellectual horizons of the discipline by highlighting underrepresented, especially non-Western, theorists and theories, and identifies key issues and challenges for future scholarship. Showcasing diverse perspectives, the handbook facilitates active engagement in different cultural traditions and theoretical orientations that are global in scope but local in effect. It begins by exploring past efforts to diversify the field, continuing on to examine theoretical concepts, models, and principles rooted in local cumulative wisdom. It does not limit itself to the mass-interpersonal communication divide, but rather seeks to frame theory as global and inclusive in scope. The book is intended for communication researchers and advanced students, with relevance to scholars with an interest in theory within information science, library science, social and cross-cultural psychology, multicultural education, social justice and social ethics, international relations, development studies, and political science.

This volume is the most comprehensive reference work on visual communications to date. An international group of well-known experts in the field provide up-to-date and in-depth contributions on topics such as fundamental theory, international standards for industrial applications, high definition television, optical communications networks, and VLSI design. The book includes information for learning about both the fundamentals of image/video compression as well as more advanced topics in visual communications research. In addition, the Handbook of Visual Communications explores the latest developments in the field, such as model-based image coding, and provides readers with insight into possible future developments. - Displays comprehensive coverage from fundamental theory to international standards and VLSI design - Includes 518 pages of contributions from well-known experts - Presents state-of-the-art knowledge--the most up-to-date and accurate information on various topics in the field - Provides an extensive overview of international standards for industrial applications

The Routledge Handbook of Language and Professional Communication provides a broad coverage of the key areas where language and professional communication intersect and gives a comprehensive account of the field. The four main sections of the Handbook cover: Approaches to Professional Communication Practice Acquisition of Professional Competence Views from the Professions This invaluable reference book incorporates not only an historical view of the field, but also looks to possible future developments. Contributions from international scholars and practitioners, focusing on specific issues, explore the major approaches to professional communication and bring into focus recent research. This is the first handbook of language and professional communication to account for both pedagogic and practitioner perspectives and as such is an essential reference for postgraduate students and those researching and working in the areas of applied linguistics and professional communication.

The Oxford Handbook of The Physiology of Interpersonal Communication, Provides a comprehensive review of research on the interplay between communication and the body within personal relationships, Uses a theory-based approach and research methods to examine the influence of physiology on interpersonal communication, Identifies key communication theories in the study of physiology and communication, Considers the advancement of theoretical perspectives regarding physiological research Book jacket.

The move toward worldwide wireless communications continues at a remarkable pace, and the antenna element of the technology is crucial to its success. With contributions from more than 30 international experts, the Handbook of Antennas in Wireless Communications brings together all of the latest research and results to provide engineering professionals and students with a one-stop reference on the theory, technologies, and applications for indoor, hand-held, mobile, and satellite systems. Beginning with an introduction to wireless communications systems, it offers an in-depth treatment of propagation prediction and fading channels. It then explores antenna technology with discussion of antenna design methods and the various antennas in current use or development for base stations, hand held devices, satellite communications, and shaping beams. The discussions then move to smart antennas and phased array technology, including details on array theory and beamforming techniques. Space diversity, direction-of-arrival estimation, source tracking, and blind source separation methods are addressed, as are the implementation of smart antennas and the results of field trials of systems using smart antennas implemented. Finally, the hot media topic of the safety of mobile phones receives due attention, including details of how the human body interacts with the electromagnetic fields of these devices. Its logical development and extensive range of diagrams, figures, and photographs make this handbook easy to follow and provide a clear understanding of design techniques and the performance of finished products. Its unique, comprehensive coverage written by top experts in their fields promises to make the Handbook of Antennas in Wireless Communications the standard reference for the field.

The Routledge Handbook of Health Communication brings together the current body of scholarly work in health communication. With its expansive scope, it offers an introduction for those new to this area, summarizes work for those already learned in the area, and suggests avenues for future research on the relationships between communicative processes and health/health care delivery. This second edition of the Handbook has been organized to reflect the goals of health communication: understanding to make informed decisions and to promote formal and informal systems of care linked to health and well-being. It emphasizes work in such areas as barriers to disclosure in family conversations and medical interactions, access to popular media and advertising, and individual searches online for information and support to guide decisions and behaviors with health consequences. This edition also adds an overview of methods used in health communication and the unique challenges facing health communication researchers applying traditional methods to efforts to gain reliable and valid evidence about the role of communication for health. It introduces the promise of translational research being conducted by health communication researchers from multiple disciplines to form transdisciplinary theories and teams to increase the well-being of not only humans but the systems of care within their nations. Arguably the most comprehensive scholarly resource available for study in this area, the Routledge Handbook of Health Communication serves an invaluable role and reference for students, researchers, and scholars doing work in health communication.